HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[paradisamods]

All that clamor from the lion dance prancing down the halls should be enough to draw attention to the party, even without actual invitations. If not the noise, then perhaps the delicious smell wafting under every door and leading back to the ballroom.

The castle is vain, if nothing else. It has decorated the ballroom in the deepest red and brightest gold with auspicious greetings in the common language tastefully posted about the hall. May your happiness be without end, one says, while another goes May all your wishes be fulfilled. Small order, all things considered.

Round dining tables (with the turning glass part) are set up in the middle of the hall, each with about ten chairs and piles of food fit for a whole village. There are two more lion dance teams hopping about the hall and making a racket while occasionally nabbing that dumpling straight from your chopsticks. That should the least of your concerns, however, with many residents still aiming to settle their grudges before the new year.

Watch your back.

[ ooc; IC mingle log for Lunar New Year plot, feel free to make your own threads! ]

Comments

[hellofist]

[Maybe if he were anyone else, or she were anyone else, that could be counted as a very insulting thing to say. Instead, Cass just grins.]

Fast metabolism. Dresses like this... will always fit.

[ofhope]

[ Her response makes him chuckle, but it's as good-natured as his tease had been. When Joshua has malicious intent, bashing someone's looks is hardly up a superpower's alley. ]

I guess that's something a husband would appreciate in old age. Dresses like that, too, at least I think.

It's pretty dark for this kind of celebration, though. You need some color.

[hellofist]

Not really worried... about what husband would appreciate. Wore it for me. And I like black.

[ofhope]

But you like yellow too, right?

[ Reaching up, Joshua unfastens the golden dragon pin adorning the lapel of his duster, then motions towards her dress. Isn't gold close enough? ]

May I?

[hellofist]

[Awww, he remembers her color scheme. Best friends forever. With a smile, she nods.]

Sure. Black and gold... are my favorite.

[ofhope]

[ The fabric is probably too fine to suffer from such a pin, but that sort of thing is a bit lost on him. Stepping closer, his fingers are gentle and nimble as he pins the dragon on her, just above her left breast. Someone not paying attention may not have even noticed he did anything, but Joshua has a finer control over his strength than most realize. ]

There, now you're in theme. Cassandra the dragon.

[hellofist]

[She's craning her neck to watch him work, not at all worried about how well the dress may or may not hold up to being stabbed with a pin. It's just a dress, she can wish for another one just like it. It's the pendant that's special.]

Can rename myself. Become Dragongirl instead.

[ofhope]

[ That draws a contemplative shrug as he reaches for a dumpling. ]

Nothing wrong with making your own legacy. Besides, not much can beat a dragon.

[hellofist]

[She's still preoccupied with the pin, lifting a hand to touch it curiously and tilt it so she can see it better.]

Knights can.

[Which is funny, considering the suit of armor in her room and the charm bracelet on her wrist.]

[ofhope]

[ There's not much else to it, other than it being a gold Chinese dragon in a perfect spiral, with small onyx eyes. ]

You won't help anyone if you're in conflict with yourself.

[ He points to the pin with the dumpling. ]

These kinds of dragons don't fight knights. They're revered rather than hunted, so you have nothing to worry about.

[hellofist]

That's good. Some things... should be left alone.

[But now she's curious.]

What do they do? Since they don't fight.

[ofhope]

[ Unfortunately he'll have to disappoint that curiosity this time. ]

I don't know. I haven't read that much on this culture. I'm sure the library has information. Maybe they fight each other?

[hellofist]

If you find out, should tell me.

[Since she can't really do her own research.]

Bet it'd be cool, though. Watching dragons fight.

[ofhope]

Cool. That means good, right?

[hellofist]

Yes, cool is good.

[ofhope]

Future slang... And hot, right? It's strange for hot and cool to mean the same thing.

[hellofist]

People make up own rules, for talking. Tends to lead... to weird things.

[ofhope]

Well, the food is hot. In spades, huh?

[ One day he'll get it. Probably not. ]

[hellofist]

Better be careful, though. If you eat too much... might not fit in suit.

[ofhope]

[ Joshua actually looks down at his suit like this is a concern. At least he hasn't gotten any stains on it, not that he really fears a lecture from the maids like he might Fiore. Joshua shrugs. ]

I have a good metabolism, too, thanks to the horns.

[ Not that he's ever given it any thought, but he's certainly never gained weight no matter how much he eats. In fact if he isn't careful when his fits last too long, he loses weight at the drop of a hat. ]

We're both in the clear.

[hellofist]

Guess we know... what to do, then.

[She picks up a plate to pass into his hands and starts to pile it up with all of the food that will fit on it without falling over the sides. Clearly her plan is for them to eat all the food.]

[ofhope]

[ W o w. Well he likes food, but he hadn't planned on pigging out this much. Then again he doesn't ever plan much of anything, so this is okay. It doesn't seem like he'll need to dance with Lucrezia considering the type of party, so if by some miracle he does get bloated, he's still in the clear. ]

I'm afraid to move the plate, now.

[hellofist]

[It's alright Joshua, Cass intends to help eat all that.]

Whatever falls, we don't need. Besides, I'm sure you have... very good balance.

[ofhope]

As long as I'm sober.

[ Which fortunately he always is. Well, usually. Just like she suggested, and despite his tease, he has no trouble balancing the plate to keep the food on, holding out his free arm for her to take before turning from the table. ]

Then the trick is to see if you can still fight after eating all of this.

[hellofist]

The drinks are strong. Would probably... only take a few. Taste bad, though. Would suggest skipping.

[And she takes his arm with a grin, she always gets a big kick out of these chivalry things.]

I can. Could always fight.